Knitter in Progress

Knitting: 1. Noro Socks--Generic Sock pattern--Noro Kureyon Sock 2. Ribband bracelet--Ribband--Socks that Rock 3. Reflection Hat(Diva)--Reflection hat(Ravelry)--Lamb's Pride Worsted 4. Reflection Hat (Rage)--Reflection hat (Ravelry)--Lamb's Pride Worsted 5. Socks--New Beginnings Socks for the Family--Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Crochet: 1. Snake--Amigurumi Toy Box--scrap yarn c/o Cynthia 2. Little Kitten with Bed--Amigurumi Toy Box--Lion Brand Wool Ease Reading: 1. Ghost Town(Caine) 2. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix(Rowling)--reread 3. How to Knit a Love Song (Herron) 4. Blood Trinity (Kenyon/Love) 5. Friday Night Knitting Club (Jacobs) 6. Game of Thrones (Martin) 7. Any Man of Mine (Gibson) 8. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince(Rowling)--reread 9. Retribution (Kenyon) 10. Bite Club (Caine) 11. Just the Rules! (Reno) 12. Eternal Rider(Ione) 13. The Proper Care & Feeding of Husbands (Schlessinger) Stitching: 1. QS Swimming with Dolphins (HAED)--finished on...

Year in Review 2011 1. your best FO of the year: My Birdie Sling--it was my first sewing piece since 8th grade and I love it! 2. best FO of the year made by a blog you link to: I can't say that I remember anything offhand that really blew me away. Knitting blogs have kind of slowed down and stitching blogs seem to be revving up. I am looking forward to seeing some amazing things in 2012! 3. best yarn you tried: Lion Brand Cotton Ease. I have always disliked cotton yarn but I love the way this feels, I used it for a baby blanket and I loved it. 4. best book/mag/pattern of 2011: Book: PUSH by Chalene Johnson--it isn't just a fitness book, it's a get your life together book. I love it! Magazine: HGTV magazine--LOVE it! Country Living magazine Pattern: Cambridge Website: Pintrest Chalene Johnson 5. best new technique or gadget you tried in 2011: Pintrest--love it! I guess I would classify it as a gadget :) 6. top 5 inspirations--what five things inspired you the most over the ...

I have decided to get my stitching groove on in 2012 and in order to maintain motivation I joined the WIPocalypse . The current WIP/UFO list: 1. Ink Circles The Bramble and the Rose 2. Ink Circles Blackstone Fantasy Garden 3. HAED QS Swimming with Dolphins 4. HAED I Love Thee 5. HAED Eternal Promise 6. HAED Storykeeper 7. HAED TTK 8. HAED Misty Weniera 9. HAED Mini Home is Where the Magic Is 10. HAED QS Lovers (BB SAL) **new start in 2012** Since all of these are multiple page projects, I will be working on one piece until I finish a page and then moving on to another. The only exception to that will be HAED QS Lovers, it is the my HAED freebie SAL piece and in order to finish it by the end of the year I am going to try and put in at least 500 stitches per week. So most of my updates will consist of two pieces: HAED QS Lovers and whichever other piece I am currently plugging away on. Posting Progress on the full moon dates for 2012: January 9 February 7 March 8 April 6 May 5 June 4 Jul...

International Hermit and Stitch Weekend : It's a new start for me this weekend. I can't wait to fit in some stitching time! After: Stats: Name: HAED Home is Where the Magic is(mini)Spangler Fabric: 28 count white evenweave Stitched: 2 over 1, tent I had more time to stitch than I thought. This is my first "mini" and there is a noticeable loss of detail which is interesting to me because the piece still has 90 colors. I am interested to see how this stitches up. I like that it is fewer pages but I think I'll miss the detail. Happy Holidays, IHSW Stitchers!

It's the wee hours of Sunday morning and I am done! Phew! I love Nano!

International Hermit and Stitch Weekend : HAED Eternal Promise(Stewart--retired) Before: Eternal promise 18nov11 , a photo by KnitterinProgress on Flickr. After: Eternal Promise 22nov11 , a photo by KnitterinProgress on Flickr. I will be keeping this piece out unti I finish this page. I seem to have an amazing talent for choosing HAED charts that are chucked full of confetti--it is a good thing I enjoy a challenge. I am also competing in National Novel Writing Month this month which takes up almost all of my free time, I am at 26,208 words of my 50,000. I am a little behind but I am quickly gaining ground. I hope to be done by next weekend.

CLX--finished it today and jotted down my final thoughts. Pros: --I love the weight work in CLX. The three month program changes up each month to keep things fresh and keep results coming. --The workout length is great. Each workout is between 30-45 minutes. --The program is set up on a 5 day per week schedule (as opposed to 6 for most of the other BB programs I've done). --I love the results I am getting. I definitely feel the drop in body fat and and I can really see a difference in my arms. All three times I went through P90X I noticed amazing strength gains but CLX has given more of the results I am looking for. --Best nutrition plan--this program and Turbo Fire have had nutrition plans that really work for me. I love the food choices and most are not too labor intensive(I hate it when you need about 50 ingredients for one meal). --The program comes with a motivational CD that I have been playing in the car and, though some people might not like it, it has been extremely helpfu...

eternal promise 11nov11 , a photo by KnitterinProgress on Flickr. I am going to be working on Eternal Promise(Stewart). It is a retired HAED artist piece, it is one of the first I started, and it drives me crazy because back in the day when I started this--it was my first HAED design--I started it 1 over 1 instead of my currently prefered 2 over 1. I do NOT like 1 over 1 I have decided BUT I need to finish this at some point before I die SO I am suffering through. If anyone has any tips for starting threads 1 over 1 please share. Thanks :)

I haven't had the urge to stitch in a long time but lately that has changed and my desire to stitch has come back with a vengeance. I am testing out a rotation in preparation for the WIPacolypse in January. I finished the second page of this piece last night. That ocean floor is riddled with confetti but then again most of this piece is--lots of detail=lots of different colors :) Pattern: Heaven and Earth Designs, QS Swimming with Dolphins (Tate) Fabric: 28 count evenweave Threads: 2 over 1, tent Pages complete: 2 In other news, Nanowrimo 2011 is off to a slow start for me. 2600/50000 words complete. Looking forward to some writing time tonight.

Yeah, that's right, because I don't have enough to do---HA!---I am going to try and get through Nano again. For anyone keeping track this will be my fifth time and, God willing, fourth finish! I was a finisher in 2005, 2006, and 2007, I tried in 2008 but didn't finish(I wasn't feeling it with my story by mid month so I bagged it). 1700 words per day!

I did not get as much "hermit" time as I would have liked. It's fall, it was nice out, yard work took priority for most of the daylight hours this weekend. I was able to stitch yesterday evening. I am working my way through the confetti nightmare that is the coral :)

Yesterday, I finished the second month of Chalean Extreme--PUSH. The Push month is all about using the heaviest weight possible with slow reps and short sets. I really enjoyed concentrating on one muscle group at a time with the heavy weights. I never thought I'd say this but I think I will be investing in 30 pound dumbbells pretty soon--my 25s were getting pretty light by the end of the month when I was doing leg work. I only lost one pound over the month but I feel a lot leaner and stronger(not P90X stronger but stronger). My eating has been cleaner this month than on any other program I have done. I still have my lapses but they are getting fewer and farther between. I am finding that, although it is boring, having a set menu to turn to is really helping. I stuck with the two cardio workouts on the workout schedule plus I added an additional cardio on Tuesdays(just like I did in month 1). I love the length of these workouts, they lend themselves easily to doubling up which I ten...

I found a tutorial for yarn wreaths and I think it would be a fun weekend project to do with the kiddos. In addition to continuing the tradition we started last year of making our own glass ball ornaments stuffed with shredded Christmas paper, glitter, and/or yarn/stitching scraps. I also got this book, Holiday Boutique Knitting , and I LOVE the wreath patterns in it--I want to make them all.

Love this : I will be working on HAED QS Swimming with Dolphins.

I am already looking ahead to 2012 and I have decided it is the year to "finish(or at least make a dent in) what I've started". With that in mind I joined the WIPocalypse . We will be posting progress on every full moon in 2012: Full moon dates for 2012: January 9 February 7 March 8 April 6 May 5 June 4 July 3 August 1 August 31 September 29 October 29 November 28 December 28 Finding WIPs to finish will not a be a problem--I think I will need WAY more than 1 year to get through them all ;) Are you a cross stitcher? Do you want to play along? If so, then sign up through the link above or just watch the madness unfold here.

Still feeling the crafty mojo here and I love it! It feels so good to have the energy to work on my favorite things AND to be able to carve out the time. For the first time in well over a year I pulled out one of my HAED projects. QS Swimming with Dolphins(Nadia Tate/Heaven and Earth Designs) I put about 600 stitches in over the last week. You can see the before pic in this post from September. I am going to be working on this one until I finish the page I am on. Knitting is also getting done--hopefully I will have some progress to show soon. I am working on 2 blankets, a pair of footie socks, cupcake themed fingerless mittens, and the Cambridge shawl.

socks for Rage 2011 , a photo by KnitterinProgress on Flickr. I finished a pair of socks for Rage last night during my hockey viewing time(LETS GO PENS!). I actually started this pair of socks in April. I finished the first one quickly then it got back-burnered with spring and summer. When I wanted to start the second sock I had Rage try on the first. . .it didn't fit. Apparently my young man is getting very big feet SOOO I had to rip out the first finished sock and reknit the pair. He is now at a 60 stitch cast on(I usually use a 64 for me)--he's 8 almost 9. Rage picked this color on our trip to Texas last year. It's Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Satsuma. Perfect October orange :) I can't even tell you how proud I was that he picked Lorna's Laces. He and his sister had their pick of the sock yarn(she chose Noro sock). Neither kiddo may want to knit but they sure can pick yarn ;)

After months of feeling very blah about all my crafting activities, I feel my crafting mojo coming back with a vengeance. I have gone through the house and located all my stitching WIPs. And in the past week I have added four projects to my knitting WIPs. My stitching WIPs are in the sidebar and, as I mentioned before I will be working on those in a rotation--switching up after I finish a page(since they are all multi-page pieces). I have two knitting pieces that are deadline pieces: an afghan and a mitered baby blanket . I have two pieces that are my "travelling" knitting pieces(ie. they fit in my purse and are in the car with me all the time): Rage's socks and the Baktus scarf . Then there are the pieces I added because I like them: Cambridge and Cupcake Mittens . Oh, I also have a pair of socks I would like to start during Socktoberfest :) **All the links above are Ravelry links** I don't want to leave out sewing either. I have a strip quilt and Amy But...

Reflections on the last month: Yesterday I finished month one of Chalean Extreme--Burn, they call it. I definitely feel like I have lost inches and I know I have lost weight. I enjoyed the 3 Burn workouts I did weekly in addition to the 2 cardio workouts. I felt that the program lacked enough cardio for me so instead of taking 2 rest days per week I added an additional cardio workout to one of those days. Looking back on the month I also feel that there was not enough core/ab work--I think that this month I will add a core workout after each weight workout day, so upping it to 3 per week. I have been very pleased with my eating over the last month. I have really tightened things up and I am finding a balance between healthy choices and the occasional treat. I have been trying to cut down my diet Pepsi intake so I am down to one can per day with the intent of cutting it out all together at some point BUT that will be very hard--I just love my diet Pepsi. Today I start month 2 of Chalean...

reflection hat(rage) , a photo by KnitterinProgress on Flickr. I finished Rage's reflection hat a couple of days ago. Love the pattern, super easy and quick. Now both kiddos have hats for the winter :)

It seems that I am always on a quest to find more time to fit in all the things I would like to do. Crafting is a such a passion of mine but finding the time to fit it all in is challenging. I really want to make progress on my stitching works in progress so I have decided to try a rotation. I will work on these three pieces--finishing one page before I move on to the next: 1. Ink Circles--The Bramble and the Rose(as of today) 2. HAED QS Swimming with Dolphins(as of today) 3. HAED I Love Thee(as of today) I really want 2012 to be the year of "finishes" instead of "new starts" ;)

reflection hat 4sept11 , a photo by KnitterinProgress on Flickr. Knitting content. . .woohoo! There was a chill in the air this weekend and by chill I mean it was in the 80's instead of the 90's SO I decided to start some winter knitting. This is the Reflection Hat --Ravelry link. I used Lamb's Pride Worsted in Limeade and Carribean Seas for this hat. It is for Diva. Now I am onto Rage's hat(which will be orange, of course).

Thoughts on my first week of Chalean Extreme . August 22, 2011: BURN Phase Day 1 I did Burn 1 this morning and I added in an additional cardio workout. I used the nutrition guide provided with the program and chose one breakfast, one lunch, one dinner, and two snacks. My breakfast was ricotta cheese with cinnamon, berries, and slivered almonds. I was NOT loving it. It's going to be a tough one to choke down all week, I'll tell you that. August 25, 2011: BURN Phase Day 4 Today it was Burn Intervals and Ab Burner both of which are right up my alley. I loved Burn Intervals what a great mix of cardio and weights. I am pleasantly sore from my workouts earlier in the week and that just lets me know that I am working things in a new way. I was thinking last night that October 2010 was the last time I did a weight workout. Turbo Fire uses resistance bands which I think are good for toning but it's not the same as hoisting good, old fashioned weights. I can...

On Sunday, August 15, I started the 5 Day Inferno plan that was included in my Turbo Fire package. Basically it is supposed to clean up your eating and help you drop a few pounds. Instead of using each day's food plan, I went through and chose 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner, and 2 snacks. I just shopped for those things. So I have been eating the same thing every day but, in all honesty, I usually eat close to the same thing everyday anyhow. I also noticed that the days calories in this 5 Day plan actually matches up to the minimum I am supposed to be eating on Weight Watchers(I never eat just the minimum but I am this week). I did the workouts as scheduled with two changes, I subbed Fire 60 for Fire 55ez on Day 1 and Day 5. I did it mostly to try and get my eating cleaned up a little more but I was hoping for around a 5 pound loss. The hardest part, by far, was that I was only allowed water or plain coffee or tea. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE diet Pepsi and I did not have one drop ...

I have been bitten by the sewing bug again. Over the last two days I made five pillowcases. Two are going to my parents and three are going to my hockey player nephews. Here they all are: 5 pillowcases 22july11 , a photo by KnitterinProgress on Flickr. Here is a closeup of one of the blue ones and I didn't think about it when I decided to make them but they fit in perfectly with Project Spectrum's theme for July. I love the fabric in these(I am almost tempted to keep them): pillow cases blue 22july11 , a photo by KnitterinProgress on Flickr. Here is a closeup of one of the hockey pillow cases. I love the fabric and I am hoping the boys will too: pillow cases hockey 22july11 , a photo by KnitterinProgress on Flickr.

I cannot believe that it is mid way through July already! For the past couple of summers my kiddos and I make a list of goals we want to accomplish over the break; in addition, I have them work out of the Summer Bridge workbooks and read during the weekdays over the summer. I think all of this gives them some structure and keeps the wheels turning in their brains(and mine) when school is out. My goal list has not progressed as fast as I would like. I have been super focused on working out since last August--I had been working out 6 days a week without fail. Notice the operative word "had". On June 16 I started feeling a sharp pain on the outside of my right knee--it was sharp enough that I thought, "Kim, you need to take a break and rest that leg." So that's what I did. For about a month I did not workout and I iced my knee quite a bit in the first couple of weeks. I also think I could buy stock in Advil at this point. I felt like I could feel myself getting fat...

pillowcases 17June2011 , a photo by KnitterinProgress on Flickr. Diva, Rage, and I went on a shopping trip yesterday in order to find material for a Father's Day gift for their father and, of course, we left with enough for a gift for Rage and I too. We made pillowcases; using a pattern I got at Snappy Quilts (along with the fabric). The top one pictured is for their Dad, the second is Rage's(he loves all things orange), and the bottom one is for me. Diva made one in a class on Monday, so don't think she was left out ;) Happy Father's Day!

little kitten 5june11A , a photo by KnitterinProgress on Flickr. My second finish from Amigurumi Toy Box. The little kitten is done and nestled in her bed. I am getting really good at the single crochet ;) I will be offline for a bit working on cross stitch and attempting my first quilt. I will be back when I have more to report. Happy Crafting!!

It's June and Project Spectrum has moved on to Green. I am not a big fan of green as far as crafting goes but here are some things I am working on: This scarf will be my June focus piece for PS5: This little snake is my first real foray into crochet. My gauge is a little loose but he turned out sort of cute: It is from the book Amigurumi Toy Box. After finishing snakey and realizing that it did, in fact, look something like a snake I decided to try something else. This is part of the Little Kitten pattern and it's a cat bed, done in PS5 Green: I am moving on to the kitten itself. I also intend to keep going with my May PS5 projects--updating all as the PS5 journey progresses :) Also, when I tried to post these pictures from Flickr today it told me it couldn't find my blog?!?! Anyone else ever have that problem? Any solutions? I already sent an email to the Flickr folks.

I have been working on all things red this month. I finished Ribband (Ravelry link) in one day. The worst part was stringing the nearly 500 beads onto the yarn--after that it was a breeze. I also think this project would look great with a neutral yarn to really highlight the beads. I also continued my quest to improve my sewing skills by learning zippers (thanks Stacey !) Of course, I had to find some red fabric for at least one pouch. I made three more pouches but Diva commandeered one, so I only have these two left to show: I know that they don't go with the PS5 theme but the skully fabric actually has the red toile fabric on the inside. I love toile fabric and red and white toile is just yummy. And I love all things skully and it must say something about me that I love them both together.

Project Spectrum 5 begins today! I have participated in a few and watched the creativity through all of them. It is such a beautiful project to follow and you can find more here , here , and on Ravelry . This year the lineup is as follows: May : Red/Orange June : Green July : Blue/Indigo August : Pink/Purple September : Yellow/Metallics October : Cyan/Aqua November : Black/White/Grey One month is not really enough time to start and complete a project so I have chosen to start off trying to make progress on two current projects. The Bramble and The Rose by Ink Circles/Floss DMC 115: Rage's socks/Lornas Laces Shepherd sock in Satsuma: Rage's socks 1May2011 , a photo by KnitterinProgress on Flickr.

IMAG0066.jpg , a photo by KnitterinProgress on Flickr. For the first time since 8th grade, I sat down behind a sewing machine and made something. It's the Birdie Sling by Amy Butler and I love it! Love the fabric, love the pattern, love the bag :)

tiny baby bunnies , a photo by KnitterinProgress on Flickr. Have a Happy Easter and a happy day!

Naps2apr2011 , a photo by KnitterinProgress on Flickr. On March 24, Casa KiP added two more to our ranks. Meet Molly(left) and Max(right)--Molly named for Molly Weasley and Max for one of my favorite hockey players. They are Abyssinian kittens, they are sister and brother, and they are 4 months old. This is the first time I was able to catch them asleep together where one, the other, or both didn't pop up at the slightest sound. I have not had kittens in 14 years and the last time it was only me teaching them the rules of the house. Now they have to fit in with DH, Diva, Rage, and a very disgruntled/confused Bailey(our 14 year old Tonkinese). These two are very smart, probably too smart for their own good. Max is a lot bigger and a giant bundle of love and playfulness. Molly is half Max's size and I believe she is working her tiny cuteness so that she can get her own way not only with the humans in the house but also the other cats. She seems to have a bit of "bully"...

1. Read two books. 2. Finish Rage's socks. 3. Stitch on Bramble and Rose. 4. Lose 5 pounds. 5. Make better eating choices. 6. Complete 26 Turbo Fire workouts(this will be the easiest goal) **My life would be fantastic if I could figure out how to knit, read, stitch, workout, AND do all my mother/wife duties at the same time**

Diva's Noro socks Generic sock pattern This is the second time I have used Noro Sock yarn and I still do not like it but Diva picked it out so I soldiered through. If Noro would dye yarn using the base that Socks That Rock uses THEN I would be loving it. Gift blanket Part one of 5 This is the Cables and Tweed pattern from a Patons Canadiana afghan book. I am hoping to give this as a Christmas gift which is why I am starting it now :)

1. Find a new magazine to subscribe to since I kicked Interweave Knits to the curb after 8 years as a subscriber. Done 3/16/11 Country Living and I am toying with the idea of Vogue Knitting 2. Finish my slow book and then read Kresley Cole's newest book, Dreams of a Dark Warrior . Finished Blood Trinity 3/15/11 3. Finish Diva's socks and start Rage's. Finished Diva's 3/12/11 4. Finish two pages of Bramble and the Rose. Still no stitching in March :( 5. Post pictures of above mentioned projects here and on Ravelry(at least the knitting on Ravelry). Done 3/16/11 6. Lose 5 pounds. I lost 4 pounds this month :) 7. Make healthier eating choices on a more consistent basis. --ongoing challenge--

I have finished the 20 week Turbo Fire schedule. I really enjoyed this last month because of all the long cardio and HIIT workouts. Overall, I loved the program and would recommend it to anyone who likes cardio and good music. Since doing Turbo Jam and Turbo Fire, my oblique muscles have never looked better. I have definitely gone down in my body fat percentage during this 20 weeks and I have lost around 10 pounds. Even better than all that, I went for my annual doctor's visit and my blood pressure is normal, all my blood work is normal, and I feel great :) I guess all this working out 6 days a week really makes a difference. I am hoping in the next 20 weeks I see even better results :) I will continue with the program as written as well as adding some additional works on occasion(ie--when I have the energy).

I have finished 16 weeks of Turbo Fire and I am getting ready to start the final month. I have noticed more progress in the last month than any other month so far. My obliques are in the best shape ever and I have dropped 5 pounds over the last month which I attribute to this workout as well as getting stricter with my eating. I am very happy that I purchased the advanced workouts(I bought just the DVDs as I do not take supplements and I already have a bunch of resistance bands). I like the longer cardio workouts and I think the toning workouts are a little better than the ones that come with the main program although I still think P90X is better for weight work. I really look forward to my workout time every day and that is saying something because even though I workout 6 days a week I don't always feel energized to do it.

In February I will: 1. Finish a book. **Nope but in my defense I am reading a book that is progressing very slowly and not keeping my attention--I'm about halfway. 2. Finish Diva's socks. **I finished one--one to go :) 3. Finish at least two pages of The Bramble and the Rose. **I did not get any stitching done this month. 4. Lose 5 pounds. **I lost 3 and I am happy with that :)

About a week ago Casa KiP got back from 6 days in Walt Disney World. And for those of you who knew about our last trip , yes, we did in fact take Rage. I, personally, was not really interested in going to Florida in January BUT we had to go then because my sisters and one of my brothers-in-law were participating in the Goofy Challenge. The Goofy Challenge for the uninitiated is running the 1/2 marathon and the full marathon during Mickey's Marathon Weekend. Why would one do this you ask? Well, because you get three medals--a Donald, a Mickey, and a Goofy. They also got three very sweet shirts. I will admit that during the excitement of the weekend I wondered why I didn't decide to do it too but then I remembered I HATE running. I have never once gotten a "runner's high" mostly I just curse every step I am taking and then I curse those steps for days afterwards because my shins and my feet hurt so much that I can't walk so running 39.3 miles in two days was not...

November 14: This was a good week--all cardio, no HIIT this week or for the next few weeks. I did try using the weighted gloves three times this week; it felt harder unfortunately I did not wear my heart rate monitor to get a gauge as far as calories burned. I am debating on whether to continue using the two tone and sculpt videos--they are really easy--I may sub in P90X Shoulders & Arms and Chest & Back. I am also toying with the idea of adding in an extra cardio three days a week during this cardio only phase. November 21: I added the weighted gloves for all the cardio this week and I love the added challenge--it's just enough. I used a higher resistance band for the toning workouts--it didn't really add that much of a challenge. I will be interested to see if the advanced dvds offer more of a toning challenge. I am also adding in four days a week of running; I'm helping my kiddos train for a race in January so I end up running with them. November 28-December 18: ...

I have been thinking about what I want to accomplish in 2011. One of the higher priorities on my list is to finish some of my works-in-progress--it seems that I add to my works-in-progress, then start to feel overwhelmed by everything on the needles, then start something else to take my mind off it. I am going to change that this year. So 11 in 11 is born. The rules are simple: **I will finish 11 things before the end of this year(and if I finish more bonus). **A finish in knitting = finishing a piece **A finish in regular cross stitch = finishing a piece **A finish in HAED stitching = finishing a page(trust me each page of these projects is more than the equivalent of another type of project). What types of crafty endeavors do you all have planned for the next year?